Four-way fuse



J. J. HEY

FOUR-WAY FUSE Nov. 9, 1954 Filed Aug, 24, 1953 R. m IE. 3 6V Hm v F m. [M m m @w V. EQ4 kmw YB United States Patent FOUR-WAY FUSE Joseph J. Hey, Bayside, N. Y.

Application August 24, 1953, Serial No. 375,907

Claims. (Cl. 200-125) This invention relates to electric fuse plugs and more particularly to a fuse plug provided with a plurality of fusible elements which may be successively utilized thereby providing means for readily restoring an inoperative electrical circuit after a fusible element has been blown by substituting an unblown fuse element.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a fuse plug of novel construction having means for selectively utilizing a selected one of a series of fusible elements mounted within the body of the fuse p ug.

The construction of this invention features a fuse having an outer envelope of glass or other insulative material within which a fuse body having a series of fusible elements is mounted. A contact spring is carried by the envelope and adapted to selectively gauge and resiliently lock in engagement with a fusible element. There is further provided a simple knob for rotating the body relative to the envelope so as to successively enable the contact spring to engage the fusible elements.

Still further objects and features of this invention re side in the provision of a multiple fuse that is strong and durable, comparatively simple in construction and manufacture, of similar size and shape to conventional fuse plugs, and which is especially easy to utilize.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this mul tiple fuse plug, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the multiple fuse plug comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fuse with the outer envelope removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view illusi trating in greatest detail the construction of the various elements of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure 3 and showing the arrangement of the spring for engaging the fusible elements.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the multiple fuse plug comprising the present invention. The multiple fuse plug 10 includes an outer envelope 12 formed of glass or other suitable insulative material and having a convoluted lower portion 14 about which a threaded metallic electrically conductive shell 16 is secured. The upper portion of the envelope 12 is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 18 for enabling the fuse to be more readily handled. The envelope 12 further has an inwardly extending peripheral flange 22.

A body portion 24 of suitable insulative material such as ceramics, porcelain, or glass is seated within the envelope 12. The body 24 has a peripheral flange 26 which is adapted to be rotatably held by the lower portion 28 of the conductive shell 16. The body 24 carries a contact head 30.

Four separate eyelets 32 are secured in the body 24 and open into a recess 34 in the upper portions of the bodv 24. Inserted in the eyelets 32 are fusible elements 36 which are electrically connected'to the contact head 30. The uapsper portion of the body 24 is internally threaded as at 2,694,125 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 Threadedly secured to the body 24 and extending partly into the recess 34 is a knob member 40 having a portion of reduced area 42 extending upwardly through the aperture 44 formed by the peripheral flange 22. The thickened portion 46 of the plug 40 forms in conjunction with the portion of reduced cross sectional area 42 a shoulder 48. This shoulder engages the flange 22. The portion 50 of the plug 40 which extends into the recess 34 is also of reduced cross sectional area and is externally threaded. The section 54 of the knob member 40 effectively seals the recess 34 and forms a shoulder as at 52 in conjunction with the main portion 46 of the knob member 40, the shoulder 52 overlying the body 24.

The envelope 12 is provided with a recess or depression 54 in the side wall thereof for reception of a free end of a spring 56 having the other end portion 58 thereof held in intimate contact with the shell 16. The spring 56 is of electrically conductive material and has a detent portion 60 adapted to engage the fusible elements 36 successively while, because of its shape, being adapted to resiliently lockingly engage the eyelets 32 successively to hold the body 24 in a selected position relative to the envelope 12. Hence, upon rotation of the knob member 40 using the projection 42 the body 24 may be rotated so that the fusible elements 36 are successively engaged by the free end 56 of the spring. It is to be understood that the knob member 40 cannot become unthreaded from the body 24 because the lower portion 28 of the shell 16 holds the composite body 24 and knob 40 to a given height by cooperation with the flange 22.

Suitable indicia as at 62 may be applied to the upper surface of the envelope 12 and a pointer or other indicator 64 may be affixed or embossed on the upper portion 42 of the knob member 40 to thereby indicate which fuse element 36 is being utilized.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of this multiple fuse are readily apparent, further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, after consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said body being internally threaded about the upper inner periphery of said recess, said knob being formed of electrically insulative material and having a portion thereof threadedly received in said recess to secure said knob to said body while sealing said recess.

2. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said means comprising a depression in said envelope, a conductive spring electrically connected to said shell and having a free end portion thereof in said depression, said free end portion selectively electrically contacting one of said fusible elements.

3. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said means comprising a depression in said envelope, a conductive spring electrically-connected to said shell and having a free end por tion thereof in said depression, said free end portion selectively electrically contacting one of said fusible elements, said free end having a detent potrion .for resiliently lockingly engaging a selected one of said eyelets to hold said body in a selected position with respect to said envolepe.

4. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact heads, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said body being internally threaded about the upper inner periphery of said recess, said knob being formed of electrically insulative material and having a portion thereof threadedly received in said recess to secure said knob to said body while sealing said recess, said means comprising a depression in said envelope, a conductive spring electrically connected to said shell and having a free end portion thereof in said depression, said free end portion selectively electrically contacting one of said fusible elements.

5. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having 'a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said body being internally threaded about the upper inner periphery of said recess, said knob being formed of electrically insulative material and having a portion thereof threadedly received in said recess to secure said knob to said body While sealing said recess, said means comprising a depression in said envelope, a conductive spring electrically connected to said shell and having a free end pprtion thereof in said depression, said free end portion selectively electrically contacting one of said fusible elements, said free end having a detent portion for resiliently lockingly engaging a selected one of said eyelets to hold said body in a selected position with respect to said envelope. I

6. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess. a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said envelope having an inner peripheral flange, said knob having a portion of decreased size at the upper end thereof forming a shoulder, said flan e engaging said shoulder.

7. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of in,- sulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said body having a peripheral flange, said flange being rotatably received in said shell.

8. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and ex tending through said envelope, said body having a peripheral flange, said flange being rotatably received in said shell, said body being internally threaded about the upper inner periphery of said recess, said knob being formed of electrically insulative material and having a portion thereof threadedly received in said recess to secure said knob to said body while scaling said recess.

9. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said body having a peripheral flange, said flange being rotatably received in said shell, said body being internally threaded about the upper inner periphery of said recess, said knob being formed of electrically insulated material and having a portion thereof threadedly received in said recess to secure said knob to said body While sealing said recess, said means comprising a depression in said envelope, a conductive spring electrically connected to said shell and having a free end portion thereof in said depression, said free end portion selectively electrically contacting one of said fusible elements.

10. A multiple fuse comprising an outer envelope of electrically insulative material having a threaded electrically conductive shell attached thereto, a body of insulative material having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a contact head attached to said body, a plurality of eyelets extending through said body and opening into said recess, a plurality of fusible elements in said recess extending through said eyelets, said fusible elements being electrically connected to said contact head, means connecting said conductive shell to a selected one of said fusible elements, and a knob secured to said body and extending through said envelope, said body having a peripheral flange, said flange being rotatably received in said shell, said body being internally threaded about the upper inner periphery of said recess, said knob being formed of electrically insulated material and having a portion thereof threadedly received in said recess to secure said knob to said body While sealing said recess, said means comprising a depression in said envelope, a conductive spring electrically connected to said shell and having a free end portion thereof in said depression, said free end portion selectively electrically contacting one of said fusible elements, said free end having a detent portion for resiliently lockingly engaging a selected one of said eyelets to hold said body in a selected position with respect to said envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

